Yuhan Wins FDA Orphan Drug Designation for Gaucher Disease Candidate YH35995 Yuhan said on the 13th that its new drug candidate YH35995, being developed to treat Gaucher disease, has received Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the Gaucher disease indication. The FDA program is intended to encourage development of treatments for diseases that affect small patient populations and have limited options. Designated products may qualify for incentives including clinical trial tax credits, waiver of certain review fees and up to seven years of market exclusivity after approval. Gaucher disease is a lysosomal storage disease caused by an enzyme deficiency that disrupts metabolism. It is an inherited rare disorder that can cause a range of symptoms throughout the body, including enlarged liver and spleen, anemia, low platelet counts and skeletal problems. Type 3 Gaucher disease includes neurologic symptoms, and there is no approved treatment for those symptoms, the company said. YH35995 is an oral small-molecule glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor designed to reduce production of glucosylceramide (GL1), a form of substrate reduction therapy. In preclinical studies, the compound showed a tendency to maintain strong and sustained inhibition of GL1 in the brain based on its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Yuhan said it expects the drug could provide clinical benefit for Type 3 patients, who have limited treatment options for neurologic symptoms. Yuhan said it plans to use the orphan designation to organize its global clinical development and regulatory strategy and focus on follow-up development aimed at improving patient access. The company previously received approval from South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for an investigational new drug application for a Phase 1 trial and is conducting a first-in-human study in healthy volunteers to evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. “This FDA orphan drug designation is a meaningful achievement that externally confirms both the need to develop a new treatment option for Type 3 Gaucher disease patients and the potential of YH35995,” said Kim Yeol-hong, head of R&D at Yuhan. “Based on discussions with global regulators, we will do our best to accelerate clinical development and provide a practical treatment alternative for patients with rare diseases.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-13 11:00:37

Actress Ji Ye-eun Confirms Dating Dancer Bada of 'Street Man Fighter' Actress Ji Ye-eun and dancer Bada have confirmed they are dating. Ji’s agency, CP Entertainment, told Aju Business on the 13th that the two, who had been colleagues, “are seeing each other with good feelings.” The agency added, “We ask for your warm support.” The two are both born in 1994 and are said to have developed their relationship after working in the entertainment industry. They reportedly grew closer through a shared religion. Ji debuted in the 2017 web drama “How To” and drew attention through variety shows including the “SNL Korea” series and “Running Man.” Bada is the leader of We Dem Boyz, the dance crew that finished runner-up on Mnet’s “Street Man Fighter.” He has created choreography for Zico’s “Saebbing” and Jennie’s “Like Jennie,” among others.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-13 11:00:14

MBC’s ‘The Grand Princess of the 21st Century’ draws debate online after premiere MBC’s Friday-Saturday drama series ‘The Grand Princess of the 21st Century’ has sparked mixed reactions online since its first broadcast. On April 12, posts about the drama flooded an online community, with viewers trading opinions on its premise, the cast’s performances and a well-known streamer’s review. Some viewers said the show’s world-building is hard to accept. One commenter wrote that it makes little sense for the female lead — described as a second-generation conglomerate heir — to be called “lowborn” and looked down on as a commoner and illegitimate child. “Rather than feeling sorry for her, I first think, ‘So what?’” the commenter said. The same post also questioned other character setups, including a second male lead portrayed as a hereditary prime minister who collects supercars, and a male lead who is the king’s son but “has nothing.” Others alleged the series borrows heavily from Japan. Another commenter said it looks like Japan’s imperial system and political structure were “Koreanized,” pointing to similarities in the military system, the constitutional monarchy setting and the class structure. The commenter also criticized the idea of a specific family inheriting the prime minister’s post, saying it resembles Japanese political culture and feels out of place in a drama set in Korea. Assessments of the acting were also divided. On X, some viewers praised Gong Seung-yeon, who plays the queen dowager, saying her delivery and tone fit a historical drama and that her performance draws viewers into the character. But some criticized Byeon Woo-seok, who plays the male lead, saying his voice and expressions feel monotonous and that his emotions do not come through strongly. A review by content commentator “Dangun,” an esports caster, also drew attention. In a live broadcast, he lowered the drama’s grade from B to C before adjusting it back to B. “The world-building is interesting, but the characters aren’t convincing,” he said, adding that the conflict structure among key figures and the plot development need more explanation. Ratings, however, started strong. Nielsen Korea said Episode 2, aired April 11, posted 9.5% nationwide and 10.1% in the Seoul metropolitan area, ranking No. 1 in its time slot. Its 20-49 rating was 5.3%, the highest among all Saturday programs, and its peak minute reached 11.1%. The series has opened with solid viewership, but debate over its premise and performances is expected to continue as the story unfolds.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-13 10:54:14

Kia's fully facelifted Seltos leads small SUV market last month SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - Kia sold 4,983 units of its Seltos in the domestic market last month, the most in the small sports utility vehicle (SUV) segment for March, according to sales figures released by its parent company Hyundai Motor on Monday. Kia gave the Seltos its first major facelift in six years, giving it a bolder, more angular look in line with the brand's overall lineup, along with improved convenience and safety features. The popular SUV has held the top spot in its segment since 2020, following its release in 2019. Those in their 20s and 30s were the largest group of buyers, accounting for about 30.5 percent, with male motorists slightly outnumbering women. Nearly half of buyers or 45.5 percent opted for the top-trim models, which come with features typically found in higher segments such as comfortable first-row seats and automatic retractable door handles. This suggests that perceived quality including design and convenience features matters more than price alone, even among entry-level or first-time buyers. Its hybrid version accounted for about 38.6 percent of sales. "The latest Seltos is a true all-rounder, combining great design, efficiency, practicality and convenience," said a Kia spokesperson. "We are confident it will appeal to a broad range of customers from first-time buyers to those seeking a versatile vehicle for both everyday use and leisure activities." 2026-04-13 10:30:14

Sookmyung University highlights human-centered AI research at global conferences SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - The Empathic AI Women's Engineering Talent Training Team at Sookmyung Women's University in South Korea is presenting a series of research papers at major international computer science conferences. As part of the Brain Korea 21 program, the team is developing human-centered artificial intelligence designed to address social isolation and communication barriers. Professor Kim Byung-Gyu leads the multidisciplinary group, which conducts research on emotion recognition, generative AI, and human-computer interaction. His group will present a multimodal emotion recognition model called EmoXFormer at the IEEE International Conference on Pattern Recognition (ICPR) 2026. This technology integrates different signals to identify human emotions more accurately. In the field of virtual reality, a group led by Professor Dong Suh Yeon presented two papers at the IEEE International Conference on Pervasive and Ubiquitous Computing (UbiComp) 2025. Their work involves a method to measure heart rates using the area around the ear when a user's face is obscured by a headset. This allows for stable emotion recognition even when a user is moving. Professor Kim Sangyeon and his team are focusing on digital accessibility for the elderly. At the ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI) 2026, they will introduce an AI-based tool that helps older users identify digital buttons and icons more easily through color and spatial cues. Other researchers on the team have focused on cybersecurity and data systems. Professor Jeong Seonghoon developed a model to detect evolving cyber threats for the IEEE/IFIP International Conference on Dependable Systems and Networks (DSN) 2026. Professor Choi Yoonhyuk also presented research on improving recommendation systems at various conferences, including AAAI 2026 and WSDM 2025. "We are expanding the practical applications of empathic AI through these diverse research achievements," said Professor Kim Byung-Gyu. "Based on our global research capabilities, we plan to contribute to fostering talent who will solve social problems and lead the AI industry in the future." 2026-04-13 10:17:58

Shinhan Bank Launches Olive Young SOL Account With Up to 4.5% Interest Shinhan Bank is rolling out a new account that pays up to 4.5% annual interest when used as a payment account at CJ Olive Young. The bank said on the 13th it launched the "Olive Young SOL Account" developed with CJ Olive Young, with a cap of 200,000 accounts. The Olive Young SOL Account is a demand deposit product that allows free deposits and withdrawals. Depending on a customer’s Olive Young usage, it offers up to 4.5% annual interest on balances of up to 2 million won. Customers can sign up starting that day through a promotional page in the Olive Young app. To mark the launch, Shinhan Bank will give all new customers a 10,000-won Olive Young mobile gift certificate. Customers who spend at least 5,000 won a month at Olive Young using the account or a linked debit card will receive a 5,000-won mobile gift certificate each month for one year. An additional 10,000-won Olive Young coupon will be issued each time customers meet a three-month cumulative usage requirement. A Shinhan Bank official said the product was designed to boost customer satisfaction by combining financial and lifestyle benefits, adding that the bank will continue partnering across sectors to offer differentiated financial experiences.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-13 10:00:00

BTS tops Billboard 200 for 3rd week, heads to Japan this week SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) -K-pop supergroup BTS wrapped up its three-day concert run in Goyang over the weekend, drawing more than 132,000 attendees, while extending its record as the first Korean act to top the U.S. charts for three consecutive weeks. According to Billboard on Sunday (local time), BTS’ fifth studio album ARIRANG held on to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 — the industry’s main weekly albums ranking based on sales, streaming and track-equivalent units — for a third straight week. The album outperformed new releases from Morgan Wallen and Kanye West. The group staged three concerts on April 9, 11 and 12 at Goyang Stadium using a 360-degree, in-the-round setup designed to engage all sides of the venue, attracting a combined 132,000 fans. The opening night on April 9 went ahead despite heavy rain, with fans filling the stadium under umbrellas in the group’s signature purple. The performance concluded without disruption, setting the tone for the remaining shows. Next stop is Tokyo, with performances scheduled at Tokyo Dome on April 17 and 18. The tour marks BTS’ first global tour in six years, underscoring the group’s return to large-scale international performances. Separately, BTS announced an additional global live-viewing event for its Busan concert, scheduled for June 13. The announcement was revealed through a surprise video with a qr code shown during the end credits in theaters following the April 11 live-viewing screening of the Goyang concert. 2026-04-13 09:56:30

TWS VR Concert Film 'Rush Road' Tops 40,000 Viewers in Korea K-pop group TWS has wrapped up its first VR concert film, “TWS VR CONCERT : RUSH ROAD,” after a successful run in South Korea. The film surpassed 40,000 cumulative viewers and posted an average seat occupancy rate of 81%. The results came despite a limited release in a single theater, outperforming previous VR concert titles and setting a notable mark in the K-pop VR concert market. “Rush Road” sold out repeatedly from its opening week, prompting extended screenings and multiple repeat viewings that sustained demand. After tickets went on sale, individual showings quickly sold out, and the title rose to No. 1 on the Megabox box office. It maintained steady occupancy through the end of its run. The company credited the performance in part to the members’ hands-on involvement. From early production, the group contributed ideas on performance structure and camera direction to improve the final product. They also met audiences in person at stage greetings held shortly after release and continued fan engagement through the Weverse community. Audience feedback was also strong, with favorable reviews posted on Megabox and on social media. The film drew not only the group’s fan base, known as “42,” but also a sizable share of general moviegoers and fans of other artists, suggesting VR concerts can serve as an entry point beyond core fandom. The film opens at a rock festival setting and moves through locations including a rooftop and an aurora-themed space, aiming to heighten immersion. It also features close-range performances designed for VR viewing. After ending its domestic run, “TWS VR CONCERT : RUSH ROAD” is continuing with sequential screenings in major cities overseas. 2026-04-13 09:51:15

Korean Picture Books Target Global Market at Bologna Children’s Book Fair The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Publishing Industry Promotion Agency said Sunday they will take part in the 63rd Bologna Children’s Book Fair, running April 13-16 at BolognaFiere in Italy, to step up efforts to expand the global market for Korean children’s publishing content. Korea will operate a 352-square-meter area centered on an export consultation zone and an author promotion zone, aiming to showcase the strength of Korean picture books and children’s literature and deliver tangible export results. In the export consultation zone, organizers will focus on one-on-one business meetings between Korean and overseas publishers. A total of 39 Korean publishers, including Changbi Publishers, Sakyejul Publishing and Dasan Books, will run individual booths. A professional agency will also handle export consultations for 100 titles submitted on behalf of 27 companies that cannot attend in person. Last year, 40 Korean publishers joined the consultation zone and held 556 export meetings. Organizers said they will support talks by arranging pre-scheduled meetings with overseas buyers, providing professional interpreters and producing an English directory introducing participating companies’ books. A “Networking Day” is set for April 14 to promote exchanges among publishing professionals. After the fair, displayed books will be donated to King Sejong Institutes and local universities to broaden access to Korean publishing content. The author promotion zone will highlight Korea’s creative range in children’s publishing by exhibiting representative works and original illustrations from 15 Korean authors. A total of 109 books, including key titles by 10 authors attending the fair, will be displayed. Organizers will run 16 author programs to introduce the writers’ work in greater depth. A special lecture will feature author Lee Geum-yi, a finalist in the writing category for the 2026 Hans Christian Andersen Award, often described as the “Nobel Prize of children’s literature.” Organizers will also host book talks and a special exhibition centered on works that won the BolognaRagazzi Award in March, aiming to underscore the international standing of Korean children’s publishing. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-13 09:36:16

NongHyup Bank Joins K-Content Loan Interest Support, Completing Six-Bank Network The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency said Monday they signed a business agreement with NongHyup Bank on April 10 to expand an interest-subsidy program for cultural content companies, together with the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund and the Korea Technology Finance Corp. Under the “content company interest-subsidy support” program, the government covers up to 2.5 percentage points of loan interest for small and midsize content firms that struggle to raise production funding. The agreement allows companies to secure financing more smoothly by using an “agreement guarantee” issued by the guarantee institutions and receiving interest support. The five participating organizations said they will cooperate for the next three years, each using its own expertise. The culture ministry will provide policy funding, and KOCCA will form a consultative body among the partners and oversee the program’s overall implementation. The Korea Credit Guarantee Fund and the Korea Technology Finance Corp. will issue dedicated agreement guarantees for content companies. NongHyup Bank will provide loans to eligible firms at rates 2.5 percentage points below standard rates. The program targets small and midsize cultural content companies that receive the agreement guarantee, and the funds are to be used for K-content production and distribution. The ministry and KOCCA said the deal completes a nationwide content-finance support network with participation from the country’s six major commercial banks. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-13 09:30:14